Method and apparatus for a restoration network with dynamic activation of pre-deployed network resources

ABSTRACT

An optical network having a first terminal node, a second terminal node, and a network service system is described. The first terminal node has a plurality of ports and a signal restoration component to create a restored path. The second terminal node has a plurality of ports and a failure monitor to issue a path failure notice. A working path, a protection path, and the restored path are each fiber optic lines optically coupling the first terminal node to the second terminal node to enable a service, each path requiring a quantity of exclusive licenses. The network service system receives a path failure notice indicating a working path failure, calculates the quantity of licenses required by the restored path, releases the quantity of licenses required by the working path and applies at least a portion of the quantity of licenses to the quantity of licenses required by the restored path.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present patent application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No.16/731,660, filed Dec. 31, 2019, which claims priority to theprovisional patent application identified by U.S. Ser. No. 62/932,826filed on Nov. 8, 2019, the entire content of each of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Optical networking is a communication means that utilizes signalsencoded in light to transmit information in various types oftelecommunications networks. Optical networking may be used inrelatively short-range networking applications such as in a local areanetwork (LAN) or in long-range networking applications spanningcountries, continents, and oceans. Generally, optical networks utilizeoptical amplifiers, a light source such as lasers or LEDs, and wavedivision multiplexing to enable high-bandwidth, transcontinentalcommunication.

Optical networks include both free-space optical networks and fiberoptic networks. Free-space networks transmit signals across open spacewithout the use of a specific medium for the light. An example of afree-space optical network includes Starlink by SpaceX. A fiber-opticnetwork, however, utilizes fiber optic cables made of glass fiber tocarry the light through a network.

Network providers build and maintain optical networks and providenetwork capacity, such as ports and bandwidth, to users as part of aService Level Agreement (SLA), which may include network uptimecommitments. In order to meet uptime commitments and maintain resourceavailability, network providers have traditionally deployed additionalnetwork capacity from the outset such that an optical network built forresiliency against a single failure requires at least twice the deployedresources as the provided network capacity. Further, an optical networkbuilt for resiliency against multiple failures (e.g. 2 or more failures)requires at least three times the deployed resources as the providednetwork capacity.

Deployment of additional capacity to meet resiliency requirementsincreases costs and creates idle network capacity when resourcesreserved for recovery are not in use. Idle network capacity can createadditional costs because network providers cannot generate revenue fromidle capacity but must bear the cost of maintaining and purchasingequipment that provides such idle capacity.

Thus, a need exists for techniques that maintain network uptimecommitments and decrease the costs associated with idle optical networkcapacity.

SUMMARY

The problem of decreasing the costs associated with idle optical networkcapacity while maintaining network uptime commitments is solved with themethods and systems described herein, by releasing a first quantity oflicenses from use by applying at least a portion of the first quantityof licenses to a third quantity of licenses subsequent to switching atransmission signal from a working path to a protection path, andcreating a restored path. Various embodiments for decreasing costs andmaintaining network commitments are described below.

In one embodiment, an optical network is described. The optical networkincludes a first terminal node, a second terminal node, and a networkservice system. The first terminal node has a first port, a second port,a third port, and a signal restoration component. The signal restorationcomponent is configured to, upon receipt of a path failure notice,switch a transmission signal from a working path to a protection pathand to create a restored path. The second terminal node has a fourthport, a fifth port, a sixth port, and a failure monitor. The failuremonitor is configured to issue the path failure notice when a pathfailure has occurred. The working path connects the first terminal nodeto the second terminal node to enable communication of the transmissionsignal between the first port of the first terminal node and the fourthport of the second terminal node. The working path may be a first fiberoptic line optically coupling the first terminal node to the secondterminal node. The working path requires a first quantity of licenses inuse to operate. The protection path connects the second port of thefirst terminal node to the fifth port of the second terminal node toenable communication of the transmission signal between the firstterminal node and the second terminal node. The protection path may be asecond fiber optic line optically coupling the first terminal node tothe second terminal node and is different from the first fiber opticline. The protection path is diverse from the working path and requiresa second quantity of licenses in use to operate where the first quantityof licenses and the second quantity of licenses are mutually exclusive.The network service system has a non-transitory computer readable mediumstoring computer executable code that when executed by a processorcauses the processor to receive the path failure notice, calculate athird quantity of licenses required by the restored path, release thefirst quantity of licenses from use and apply at least a portion of thefirst quantity of licenses to the third quantity of licenses. Therestored path connects the third port of the first terminal node to thesixth port of the second terminal node to enable communication of thetransmission signal between the first terminal node and the secondterminal node. The restored path may be a third fiber optic lineoptically coupling the first terminal node to the second terminal nodeand is different from the first fiber optic line and the second fiberoptic line. The restored path is different from the working path and theprotection path. The third quantity of licenses and the second quantityof licenses are mutually exclusive.

In another embodiment, a capacity control engine is described. Thecapacity control engine includes a processor and a non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing computer executable code. Whenexecuted, the computer executable code causes the processor to monitor afirst component and a second component for a failure. The firstcomponent is required to provide a service and requires a first quantityof licenses to provide the service. The second component is required toprovide the service in case of a failure of the first component andrequires a second quantity of licenses to provide the service. Thesecond quantity of licenses is mutually exclusive with the firstquantity of licenses. The computer executable code further causes theprocessor to receive a failure notice indicating a failure of the firstcomponent and identifying a third component. The third component isrequired to provide the service in case of a failure of the secondcomponent. The computer executable code further causes the processor to,upon receiving the failure notice, release the first quantity oflicenses from use with the first component, calculate a third quantityof licenses required by the third component to provide the service wherethe third quantity of licenses is mutually exclusive with the secondquantity of licenses, and apply at least a portion of the first quantityof licenses released to the third quantity of licenses required toprovide the service.

In yet another embodiment, a capacity control engine is disclosed. Thecapacity control engine includes a processor and a non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing computer executable code. Whenexecuted, the computer executable code causes the processor to: tracklicense usage data and license purchase data for each user, storelicense usage data and license purchase data; and, coordinate use oflicenses based on a network state such that upon receiving anotification of creation of a restored path due to the network stateshowing a failed path and a protection path, each license used by thefailed path is released to an unused license pool and each licenserequired by the restored path is selected from the unused license pool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate one or more implementationsdescribed herein and, together with the description, explain theseimplementations. The drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale, andcertain features and certain views of the figures may be shownexaggerated, to scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity andconciseness. Not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Likereference numerals in the figures may represent and refer to the same orsimilar element or function. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is an exemplary diagram of an optical network segment.

FIG. 1B is an exemplary process flow diagram of an optical networkrestoration process.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an optical networkservice system diagram.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of a license database.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of an optical network with a failurein a multi-node path.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a computer systemimplementing the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a node terminal in anoptical network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the disclosure in detail,it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction, experiments, exemplary data,and/or the arrangement of the components set forth in the followingdescription or illustrated in the drawings unless otherwise noted.

The disclosure is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for purposes ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As used in the description herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example,unless otherwise noted, a process, method, article, or apparatus thatcomprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only thoseelements but may also include other elements not expressly listed orinherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to aninclusive and not to an exclusive “or”. For example, a condition A or Bis satisfied by one of the following: A is true (or present) and B isfalse (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (orpresent), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. Thisdescription should be read to include one or more, and the singular alsoincludes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.Further, use of the term “plurality” is meant to convey “more than one”unless expressly stated to the contrary.

As used herein, qualifiers like “substantially,” “about,”“approximately,” and combinations and variations thereof, are intendedto include not only the exact amount or value that they qualify, butalso some slight deviations therefrom, which may be due to computingtolerances, computing error, manufacturing tolerances, measurementerror, wear and tear, stresses exerted on various parts, andcombinations thereof, for example.

As used herein, any reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“some embodiments,” “one example,” “for example,” or “an example” meansthat a particular element, feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment and may be used in conjunction with other embodiments. Theappearance of the phrase “in some embodiments” or “one example” invarious places in the specification is not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment, for example.

The use of ordinal number terminology (i.e., “first”, “second”, “third”,“fourth”, etc.) is solely for the purpose of differentiating between twoor more items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, is not meant toimply any sequence or order of importance to one item over another.

The use of the term “at least one” or “one or more” will be understoodto include one as well as any quantity more than one. In addition, theuse of the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z” will be understood toinclude X alone, Y alone, and Z alone, as well as any combination of X,Y, and Z.

Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is the technique of transmittingone or more channels of information through a single optical fiber bysending multiple light beams of different wavelengths through the fiberas a transmission signal, each light beam modulated with a separateinformation channel. Wavelength-division multiplexing requires awavelength division multiplexer in transmitter equipment and ademultiplexer in receiver equipment or both a multiplexer and ademultiplexer in transceiver equipment, such as a ROADM.

A reconfigurable add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) node is an all-opticalsubsystem that enables remote configuration of wavelengths at any ROADMnode. A ROADM is software-provisionable so that a network operator canchoose whether a wavelength is added, dropped, or passed through theROADM node. The technologies used within the ROADM node includewavelength blocking, planar lightwave circuit (PLC), and wavelengthselective switching (WSS)—though the WSS has become the dominanttechnology. A ROADM system is a metro/regional WDM or long-haul DWDMsystem that includes a ROADM node. ROADMs are often talked about interms of degrees of switching, ranging from a minimum of two degrees toas many as eight degrees, and occasionally more than eight degrees. A“degree” is another term for a switching direction and is generallyassociated with a transmission fiber pair. A two-degree ROADM nodeswitches in two directions, typically called East and West. Afour-degree ROADM node switches in four directions, typically calledNorth, South, East, and West. In a WSS-based ROADM network, each degreerequires an additional WSS switching element. So, as the directionsswitched at a ROADM node increase, the ROADM node's cost increases. Asused herein, the terms “node” or “network node” may refer to one or moreROADM.

As described herein, channels, or network channels, may refer to anentire network channel or a portion of a network channel. A channel is apredetermined wavelength range of a transmission signal and maycorrespond to one or more light beam.

As used herein, a span is the spread or extent of a fiber optic cablebetween the fiber optic cables' terminals. Generally, a span is anunbroken or uninterrupted segment of fiber optic cable between nodes.

As used herein, a fiber optic line means a series of one or more spansof a fiber optic cable for conveying a transmission signal from anorigin to a destination. Thus, a fiber optic line could include one,two, three or more fiber optic cables that may be connected in series byone or more intermediate node.

As used herein, a service is the use of one or more channel to transmitdata from an origin to a destination. A service may be a path within anoptical network available for client use. 100GE service refers tocarrying 100GE client signal over one or more wavelengths in a ROADM oroptical network. Services may include SONET/SDH services, gigabitEthernet (GbE) services, OTN services, and/or fiber channel (FC)services.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1A, showntherein is an exemplary embodiment of an optical network segment 10having a plurality of nodes 14 including a first node 14 a and a secondnode 14 b connected by two or more paths 18 such as a working path 18 aand a protection path 18 b. Each node 14 within the optical networksegment 10 has a plurality of ports 22 a-n where each port 22 has atleast one fiber optic terminal and can transmit and/or receive apredetermined bandwidth of data. The optical network segment 10 is shownfor simplicity as having the working path 18 a and the protection path18 b between two nodes, however, each path 18 may traverse one or morenode between the first node 14 a and the second node 14 b.

Further shown in FIG. 1A is a first path failure 26 a on the workingpath 18 a and a second path failure 26 b on the protection path 18 b.The first path failure 26 a may be any failure within the opticalnetwork segment 10 that prevents a transmission signal from travelingalong the working path 18 a between the first node 14 a and the secondnode 14 b. The second path failure 26 b may also be any failure withinthe optical network segment 10 that prevents a transmission signal fromtraveling along the protection path 18 b between the first node 14 a andthe second node 14 b. In some instances, each path failure 26 may be acut fiber optic cable, a failure of an amplifier on the working path 18a, a failure at the first node 14 a at a port 22 connected to the path18, or a failure at the second node 14 b at a port 22 connected to thepath 18, or some combination thereof. As discussed in more detail below,the optical network segment 10 includes a restored working path 18 a′, arestored protection path 18 b′, and a third node 14 c. In oneembodiment, each port 22 a-n is a hardware port on the node 14. Inanother embodiment, each port 22 a-n represents a predetermined anduniform unit of bandwidth of the node 14. Any path 18 having a pathfailure 26, e.g. the working path 18 a having the first path failure 26a, may be referred to as a failed path. For example only and not by wayof limitation, each port 22 a-n may represent 100 gigabits per second(gbps) of bandwidth available at a particular node 14. For each port 22,the unit of bandwidth of the node 14 may be either monodirectional orbidirectional.

In one embodiment, the working path 18 a is a path the transmissionsignal travels from a first terminal node, depicted in FIG. 1A as thefirst node 14 a, to a second terminal node, depicted in FIG. 1A as thesecond node 14 b. A terminal node may transmit, receive, or bothtransmit and receive the transmission signal on the fiber optic path. Inone embodiment, each terminal node may include one or more fieldreplaceable unit (FRU) to send and/or receive the transmission signal onthe ROADM network. The ROADM network may be an optical network. Theworking path 18 a may include one or more node 14 between the firstterminal node and the second terminal node. The working path 18 a mayfurther include one or more in-line amplifier (not shown) between eachnode 14.

In one embodiment, the protection path 18 b is a path the transmissionsignal may travel from the first terminal node to the second terminalnode and is diverse from the working path 18 a such that either thenodes of working path 18 a and the nodes of protection path 18 b aremutually exclusive or the fiber optic lines of working path 18 a andfiber optic lines of protection path 18 b are mutually exclusive, orboth. In one embodiment, each terminal node may include one or morefield replaceable unit (FRU) to send and/or receive the transmissionsignal on the ROADM network. The working path 18 a may include one ormore node 14 between the first terminal node and the second terminalnode. The working path 18 a may further include one or more in-lineamplifier (not shown) between each node 14. The protection path 18 b maybe described as an alternative path, or backup path, for thetransmission signal to travel if the transmission signal is unable totraverse the working path 18 a. By maintaining the protection path 18 b,a network services provider can meet redundancy requirements of aservice level agreement and ensure any path failure 26 is accounted foras quickly as possible in order to maintain service uptime.

In one embodiment, the working path 18 a and the protection path 18 bare routed diversely in the network such that any path failure 26 withinthe working path 18 a is not also a path failure 26 within theprotection path 18 b. Similarly, the protection path 18 b and therestored working path 18 a′ are routed diversely in the network suchthat any path failure 26 within the protection path 18 b is not also apath failure 26 within the restored working path 18 a′. Diversity mayinclude either node diversity or fiber diversity or both and may bereferred to as a Shared Risk Link Group or a Shared Risk Resource Groupdepending on whether links or resources are shared within two or moreparticular paths. Node diversity may refer to a lack of commonalitybetween the nodes of a first path, such as the working path 18 a, and asecond path, such as the protection path 18 b. Similarly, fiberdiversity may refer to a lack of commonality between the fiber opticlines connecting the nodes of the first path and the fiber optic linesconnecting the nodes of the second path. A Node Diverse path protectsagainst node failures, while a Fiber Diverse path protects against apath failure due to a failure of the fiber line, however, the workingpath and the protection path in a fiber diverse path may utilize thesame node.

In one embodiment the working path 18 a and the protection path 18 b arecreated by a management system 116 (shown in FIG. 2 , and discussed inmore detail below) before a service requiring the path is enabled. Themanagement system 116 may create both the working path 18 a and theprotection path 18 b independently of additional user interaction. Inone embodiment, the management system 116 may optimize each path 18 inorder to minimize the number of licenses needed for the path or mayoptimize each path 18 in order to minimize length of the path. Inanother embodiment, the management system 116 may determine how tooptimize each path 18 based on user input to the license store component104.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, shown therein is an exemplary process flowdiagram of an optical network restoration process 50 being executed bythe management system 116. The optical network restoration process 50generally comprises the steps of detecting one or more path failure 26(step 54); switching to the protection path 18 b (step 58); creating arestored path 18′ (step 62); and, adjusting client licenses based on thechanges in the paths 18 and restored paths 18′ (step 66).

In one embodiment, detecting one or more path failure 26 (step 54) maybe performed by the management system 116 (discussed in more detailbelow). The path failure 26 may be detected by the first node 14 a, thesecond node 14 b, or by one or more signal monitors situated along thepath 18, such as after and/or before signal amplifiers such as shown inFIG. 6 . The one or more signal monitors may be situated such that anorigin of the path failure 26 may be identified. In one embodiment, thefirst node 14 a, the second node 14 b, and/or the one or more signalmonitors may notify the management system 116 of one or more pathfailure 26, such as the path failure 26 a and/or path failure 26 b, suchas with a failure notice. A failure notice may contain data thatindicates the path 18 having the path failure 26 and/or may contain dataindicating an element within the optical network causing the pathfailure 26.

In one embodiment, switching to the protection path 18 b (step 58) isperformed by the nodes. After detecting one or more path failure 26(step 54), the second node 14 b may issue commands to the first node 14a causing each node 14 to transmit and/or receive the transmissionsignal along the protection path 18 b if the working path 18 a has oneor more path failures 26. In one embodiment, the protection path 18 b ispredetermined before the service is activated, as described above, andno license accounting is performed between step 54 and step 58, therebycausing the time between step 54, detecting one or more path failures26, and step 58, switching to the protection path 18 b, or failure time,to be minimized. In some embodiments, the time period for recoveringfrom the path failure 26 a and/or the path failure 26 b may be less than50 milliseconds.

In one embodiment, creating a restored path 18′ (step 62) is performedby the first node 14 a and may be performed utilizing GMPLS, that is byusing generalized multiprotocol label switching technology. As describedabove, in order to maintain redundancy, the transmission signal shouldhave a backup path; therefore, a restored path 18′ should be created. Inone embodiment, the first node 14 a creates the restored path 18′ byanalyzing one or more path 18 from the first node 14 a and the secondnode 14 b, where the first node 14 a, the second node 14 b, and any node14 between the first node 14 a and the second node 14 b has unlicensedports that are available to be a part of the restored path 18′, andselecting the restored path 18′ from the one or more paths 18. In oneembodiment, the one or more paths 18 is selected to minimize the numberof ports 22 a-n needed for the restored path 18′. In another embodiment,the one or more paths 18 is selected to minimize the length of therestored path 18′.

In one embodiment, adjusting licenses based on the changes in the path18 and/or restored path 18′ (step 66) is performed by a capacity controlengine 112 (shown in FIG. 2 , and discussed in more detail below) andincludes releasing all licenses required for the path 18 having the pathfailure 26 and then applying available licenses to the restored path 18′subsequent to the transmission signal being switched to the restoredpath 18′. Thus, the signals sent to each node 14 to establish therestored path 18′ and switch the transmission signal to the restoredpath 18′ are devoid of any licensing instructions.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of anoptical network service system diagram 100 having a network servicesystem 102 with a license store component 104, an audit and enforcementcomponent 108, the capacity control engine 112, a data transformer 125,a data collector 126, and the management system 116, and an opticalnetwork 120. The optical network 120 is comprised of one or more opticalnetwork segments 10 (shown in FIG. 1A).

In one embodiment, the license store component 104 is a computer programstored as computer executable instructions on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. The license store component 104 may provide atleast one user interface to a user, the user interface providing theuser an ability to purchase additional licenses and inform the user of acurrent state of license usage. The license store component 104 alsomaintains information about licenses purchased by users and maintains acurrent state of license usage. Licenses may be activated and/orreleased based on resource demand of a user of the services requested bythe user. For example, additional licenses may be activated to satisfyan increase in the user's resource demand, such as an increase in anumber of nodes along the working path 18 a or the protection path 18 b,or an increase in the number of services. Additionally, oralternatively, licenses may be released (e.g., when the working path 18a or the protection path 18 b no longer requires the license) to reducethe user's costs associated with having to purchase additional licensesif the licenses were not released due to a path failure. In oneembodiment, if the user has purchased licenses that are not needed, e.g.are not required for either the working path 18 a or the protection path18 b for a particular service, the unused licenses may be placed in anunused license pool.

In one embodiment, the audit and enforcement component 108 is a computerprogram stored as computer executable instructions on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. The audit and enforcement component 108receives information indicative of the current state of licenses fromthe license store 104, and tracks license usage within the opticalnetwork 120 of each user and tracks license purchases of each user. Theaudit and enforcement component 108 may enforce license rules unique toeach user. By way of example only, a first license rule may preventprovisioning additional services for a particular user if the number oflicenses needed to provision a particular service exceeds the number ofavailable licenses for the particular user, whereas, a second licenserule may allow provisioning additional services for a particular user ifthe number of licenses needed to provision a particular service exceedsthe number of available licenses for the particular user and theparticular user has an agreement that allows for purchasing additionallicenses as needed.

In one embodiment, the capacity control engine 112 is a computer programstored as computer executable instructions on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. The capacity control engine 112 tracks licenseusage for each user and license purchases for each user and storeslicense usage and license purchase data in a license database 124. Thecapacity control engine 112 coordinates use of licenses based on networkstate and automatically transfers licenses once the restored path 18 a′is set up and the transmission signal is switched to the protection path18 b. The capacity control engine 112 also provides real-timereconciliation of license entitlement and network usage, in part, bymonitoring the optical network 120.

In one embodiment, the capacity control engine 112 is in communicationwith a data transformer 125. The data transformer converts, ornormalizes, platform specific data, such as optical network data, into aplatform agnostic capacity utilization record. Thus, the datatransformer 125 may store normalized optical network usage data as aplatform agnostic capacity utilization record. In one embodiment, thedata transformer 125 is in communication with a data collector 126. Thedata collector 126 collects network data from the optical network 120and license purchase data from the license store component 104. The datacollector 126 then processes and stores the network data for bandwidthutilization and the license purchase data. In one embodiment, thecapacity control engine 112 further comprises a license usage engine,which computes license usages and assigns licenses by processing networkusage and license purchase data either obtained directly or from thedata transformer 125 and stores processed license usage data, and alicense report generator, which generates summarized license usagereports. In another embodiment, the license usage engine and the licensereport generator are components of the audit and enforcement component108. In yet another embodiment, the data collector 126, data transformer125, license usage engine, and license report generator operateindependently of the capacity control engine 112, the management system116, the audit and enforcement component 108 and the license storecomponent 104, or operate in conjunction with one or more thereof. Inone embodiment, the capacity control engine 112 communicates with theaudit and enforcement component 108, thereby providing the capacitycontrol engine 112 with information about newly licenses and enablingthe audit and enforcement component 108 to implement any business rulesfor capacity over consumption.

In one embodiment, the management system 116 is a computer programstored as computer executable instructions on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. In general, the management system 116 monitorsthe optical network 120. Referring back to FIG. 1A, if the managementsystem 116 detects the first path failure 26 a on the working path 18 a,the management system 116 release all licenses to the working path 18 a.If the management system 116 then detects the second path failure 26 bon the protection path 18 b, the management system 116 will release alllicenses to the protection path 18 b. In one embodiment, in the eventthe first path failure 26 a on the working path 18 a is corrected andthe first path failure 26 a is the only failure on either the workingpath 18 a or the protection path 18 b, the management system 116 willrelease licenses to the restored working path 18 a′ if the restoredworking path 18 a′ is not currently being used to transmit thetransmission signal. When licenses are released, they may be added tothe unused license pool.

In one embodiment, the management system 116 notifies the capacitycontrol engine 112 of adjustments made to the working path 18 a and/orthe protection path 18 b. The capacity control engine 112 may thenadjust licenses based on the current paths 18. The capacity controlengine 112 may or may not apply license rules to prevent the use ofadditional licenses.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , shown therein is an exemplary embodiment ofthe license database 124 having at least a customer information field128, a device field 132, a bandwidth information field 136, and alicense status field 140.

The customer information field 128 may store information identifying aparticular license associated with a user. For example, customerinformation field 128 may store an account number, a license number,and/or some other license related information such as informationregarding a user of the license. In one embodiment, the account numbermay be used to identify billing information such that an account may becharged for provided network services. In another embodiment, the amountcharged may be based on the number of licenses issued to the user. Thelicense number identifies the particular license that has been purchasedby the user.

In one embodiment, the device field may include a device identifier,such as a serial number and/or a port number, of a network componentassociated with the license number. The device identifier may correspondto a node and/or a port of the node that has been allocated the licensenumber corresponding to the device identifier as part of the path 18. Inone embodiment, the device identifier may identify a particular fieldreplaceable unit (FRU), such as a ROADM, installed in the opticalnetwork 120 such as a node 14 or a particular port 22 on a particularnode 14.

In one embodiment, the bandwidth information field 136 may storeinformation identifying bandwidth allocated to a particular license suchas capacity and bandwidth type, such as whether the particular licenseis being utilized as part of the working path 18 a or as part of theprotection path 18 b.

In one embodiment, the license status field 140 may store informationidentifying the status of a particular license, such as whether theparticular license is currently being used, that is, whether theparticular license if being utilized as part of the working path 18 a orthe protection path 18 b, or whether the particular license is free,that is, the particular license is available to be utilized to createthe restored working path 18 a′ or the restored protection path 18 b′.In one embodiment, the license status field 140 may also indicatewhether the particular license has been allocated yet, exceeds thenumber of purchased licenses. A capacity of 100 gbps is shown forillustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting. Astechnology changes, the bandwidth capacity per license may also changeto meet future demands.

In one embodiment, the license database 124 may also store informationidentifying network resources, in addition to or instead of bandwidthallocated to a particular license. For example, bandwidth informationfield 136 may store information identifying services that a user maywish to receive (e.g., SONET/SDH services, gigabit Ethernet (GbE)services, OTN services, and/or FC services). Additionally, oralternatively, bandwidth information field 136 may store informationidentifying an amount of resources that the user may wish to receive(e.g., a particular unit of measure of GbE services, a particular unitof measure of SONET/SDH services, etc.) or may store informationidentifying that the user has purchased the full bandwidth of thedevice.

In one embodiment, information stored in the license database 124 may bebased on a service level agreement (SLA) between a user and the networkservice provider. For example, the SLA may include information thatidentifies the bandwidth, services, and/or licenses that the user mayuse. In some implementations, information stored in the license database124 may be updated through communication with the audit and enforcementcomponent 108. The audit and enforcement component 108 may communicatelicense changes with the capacity control engine 112 with the usermodifies license requirements, such as by using the license storecomponent 104 to adjust the number of licenses purchased or thedirection or destination of a service.

In one embodiment, the capacity control engine 112 may compare licensesused in the optical network 120 with license information stored in thelicense database 124 to determine available network capacity. Anydiscrepancies may be referred to the audit and enforcement component108. In one embodiment, the information stored in the license database124 may be used to plan network resource allocation allowing an operatorto identify network usage trends identified by license informationstored in the license database 124.

While particular fields are shown in a particular format in licensedatabase 124, the license database 124 may include additional fields,fewer fields, different fields, or differently arranged fields than areshown in FIG. 4 . Additionally, the license database 124 may includemore than one database.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , shown therein is an exemplary embodiment ofthe optical network 120 having a plurality of nodes 14, path failure 26c, the working path 18 a, the protection path 18 b, and the restoredworking path 18 a′. As shown, the working path 18 a connects a firstterminal node 14 d and a second terminal node 14 e and traverses node 14f, node 14 g, and node 14 h. In order to create the working path 18 a,the user must have at least eight available licenses. In one embodiment,the licenses are required as follows: one license for the first terminalnode 14 d, one license for the second terminal node 14 e, and twolicenses each for node 14 f, node 14 g, and node 14 h. In this example,each port 22 of the nodes 14 d, 14 e, 14 f, 14 g and 14 h that areallocated to the working path 18 a requires a single license.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the protection path 18 b connects the firstterminal node 14 d and the second terminal node 14 e and traverses node14 i, node 14 k, and node 14 m. In order to create the protection path18 b, the user must have at least an additional eight availablelicenses. In one embodiment, the licenses are required as follows: onelicense for the first terminal node 14 d, one license for the secondterminal node 14 e, and two licenses each for node 14 i, node 14 k, andnode 14 m.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the path failure 26 c has been detected betweennode 14 g and node 14 h on the working path 18 a. The transmissionsignal is now switched from the working path 18 a to the protection path18 b and the eight licenses used for the working path 18 a are released,that is, the eight licenses used for the working path 18 a are now freeto assign to another path(s). Once the transmission signal is switchedto the protection path 18 b, the restored working path 18 a′ is createdto connect the first terminal node 14 d and the second terminal node 14e by traversing node 14 p, node 14 r, node 14 s, node 14 t and node 14u. Once the restored working path 18 a′ is created, the capacity controlengine 112 performs an accounting on the two paths, the protection path18 b and the restored working path 18 a′. The restored working pathrequires twelve (12) licenses as follows: one license for each the firstterminal node 14 d and the second terminal node 14 e and two licenseseach for node 14 p, node 14 r, node 14 s, node 14 t, and node 14 u. Thecapacity control engine 112 may use the eight licenses released from theworking path 18 a with the path failure 26 c, and apply those licensesto the restored working path 18 a′. Once the eight released licenses areapplied, the remaining four licenses required for the restored workingpath 18 a′ are acquired from the license store 104 on a per-user basisby the audit and enforcement component 108.

Referring now to FIG. 5 , shown therein is a computer system 200 inaccordance with the present disclosure designed to carry out the opticalnetwork restoration process 50. The optical network restoration process50 may be carried out on one or more computer system 200. The computersystem 200 may comprise one or more processor 204, one or morenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium 208, and one or morecommunication component 212. The one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium 208 may store one or more database 216,the license database 124, program logic 220, and computer executableinstructions 222. The computer system 200 may bi-directionallycommunicate with a plurality of user devices 224, which may or may nothave one or more screens 228, and/or may communicate via a network 232.The processor 204 or multiple processors 204 may or may not necessarilybe located in a single physical location.

In one embodiment, the non-transitory computer-readable medium 208stores program logic, for example, a set of instructions capable ofbeing executed by the one or more processor 204, that when executed bythe one or more processor 204 causes the one or more processor 204 tocarry out the optical network restoration process 50 or some portionthereof.

In one embodiment, the network 232 is the Internet and the user devices224 interface with the system via the communication component 212 and aseries of web pages. It should be noted, however, that the network 232may be almost any type of network and may be implemented as the WorldWide Web (or Internet), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a metropolitan network, a wireless network, a cellular network, aGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) network, a 3G network, a 4G network, a 5Gnetwork, a satellite network, a radio network, an optical network, acable network, a public switched telephone network, an Ethernet network,combinations thereof, and/or the like. It is conceivable that in thenear future, embodiments of the present disclosure may use more advancednetworking topologies.

In one embodiment, the computer system 200 comprises a server system 236having one or more servers in a configuration suitable to provide acommercial computer-based business system such as a commercial web-siteand/or data center. The server system 236 may be connected to thenetwork 232.

The computer system 200 may be in communication with the optical network120. The computer system 200 may be connected to the optical network 120through the network 232, however, the network 232 may not be theInternet in all embodiments. In one embodiment, the computer system 200is an element of a field replaceable unit, or FRU.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , shown therein is a block diagram of anexemplary node 14 which may be used to implement the first terminal node14 a, the second terminal node 14 b, or the third terminal node 14 c.The node 14 has a plurality of C-Band transponders 254, includingreceivers 254 a and transmitters 254 b, connected to a C-Band ROADM 258and a plurality of L-Band transponders 262, including receivers 262 aand transmitters 262 b, connected to an L-Band ROADM 266, the C-BandROADM 258 and the L-Band ROADM 266 are coupled together and connected toa hybrid C-Band card 270. The hybrid C-Band card 270 is connected to afirst fiber optic line 274 having a first transmission signal travelingin a first direction and connected to a second fiber optic line 278having a second transmission signal traveling in a second directiondifferent from the first direction. Each of the C-Band transponders 254and the L-Band transponders 262 is connected to one of the ports 22 a-nof the node 14. Only eight ports 22 are depicted in FIG. 6 forsimplicity. It is understood that the number of ports 22 in each node 14may vary depending on hardware used, each installed FRU, capacityrequirements, and technology limitations, and therefore the node 14 mayalso have more than or less than eight ports 22.

The first transmission signal traveling in the first direction entersthe hybrid C-Band card 270, is detected by a first photodiode 282 andenters a diverter 286 where a C-Band portion of the first transmissionsignal is detected by a second photodiode 290, enters the C-Band ROADM258, is amplified by an amplifier 294, and is then demultiplexed bydemultiplexer 298 before traveling to receivers 254 a of the C-Bandtransponders 254, and where an L-Band portion of the first transmissionsignal enters the L-Band ROADM 266, is detected by a third photodiode302, is amplified by an amplifier 306, and is then demultiplexed by ademultiplexer 310 before traveling to receivers 262 a of the L-Bandtransponders 262. The C-Band portion of the second transmission signaltraveling in the second direction originates at transmitters 254 b ofthe C-Band transponders 254, is multiplexed by a multiplexer 314 beforebeing boosted by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier 318. The L-Band portionof the second transmission signal traveling in the second directionoriginates at transmitters 262 b of the L-Band transponders 262, ismultiplexed by a multiplexer 322 before being encoded by theerbium-doped fiber amplifiers 326. The C-Band portion and the L-Bandportion are then combined in combiner 328 to form the secondtransmission signal that is detected by a fourth photodiode 330 andwhich further passes through the hybrid C-Band card 270 to the secondfiber optic line 278. In other embodiments, the node 14 may not includethe Hybrid C-Band card 270. Additionally, while receivers 254 a andtransmitters 254 b are shown independently, each transponder 254 iscomprised of a transmitter 254 b and a receiver 254 a. The transponder254 is diagrammed as two elements, the receiver 254 a and thetransmitter 254 b, for simplicity of the diagram. Similarly, whilereceivers 262 a and transmitters 262 b are shown independently, eachtransponder 262 is comprised of the transmitter 262 b and the receiver262 a. The transponder 262 is diagrammed as two elements, the receiver262 a and the transmitter 262 b, for simplicity of the diagram. Each ofthe C-Band ROADM 258, the L-Band ROADM 266, and the hybrid C-Band card270 may each have an optical supervisory channel 334.

In one embodiment, by monitoring the transmission signal detected byeach of the first photodiode 282, the second photodiode 290, the thirdphotodiode 302, and/or the fourth photodiode 330, each node 14 may senda fault event message on the optical supervisory channel 334 to at leastone or both of a downstream node, an upstream node, the managementsystem 116, the capacity control engine 112, and/or some combinationthereof. Additional photodiodes may be placed such that detection of afailure at a particular element may be determined. In anotherembodiment, detecting a path failure 26 (Step 54) is performed byreceiving the fault event message on the optical supervisory channel.Additionally, it should be noted that even though the node 14 isdepicted for a C-Band and an L-Band transmission signal, the bandsdepicted are not limiting and a similar construction can be used for anyband of a transmission signal in a fiber optic network.

From the above description, it is clear that the inventive conceptsdisclosed and claimed herein are well adapted to carry out the objectsand to attain the advantages mentioned herein, as well as those inherentin the invention. While exemplary embodiments of the inventive conceptshave been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will beunderstood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished withinthe spirit of the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A capacity control engine operable for use withan optical network comprising a plurality of users having a processorand a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computerexecutable code that when executed by the processor causes the processorto: track license usage data and license purchase data for each user ofthe plurality of users; store license usage data and license purchasedata; and, coordinate use of licenses based on a network state such thatupon receiving a notification of creation of a restored path due to thenetwork state showing a failed path and a protection path, each licenseused by the failed path being released to an unused license pool andeach license required by the restored path is selected from the unusedlicense pool, wherein the computer executable code executed by theprocessor further causes the processor to: provide, to a user of theplurality of users, real-time reconciliation of license entitlement andnetwork usage, the real-time reconciliation of license entitlement beinga calculation of a quantity of licenses purchased by the user comparedto a quantity of licenses needed for both the protection path and therestored path, wherein tracking license usage data and license purchasedata for each user of the plurality of users and storing license usagedata and license purchase data is performed by a data collector, thedata collector having a processor and computer executable non-transitorymemory storing computer executable code that when executed by aprocessor causes the processor to: collect the network state for theoptical network as bandwidth utilization data, the network state beingdata representing a working path including identifiers for two or morenodes on the working path and identifiers for one or more fiber line onthe working path, the protection path including identifiers for two ormore nodes on the protection path and identifiers for one or more fiberline on the protection path, an indicator identifying whether theworking path or the protection path is a failed path, and, if theindicator indicates a failed path is present, the restored pathincluding identifiers for two or more nodes on the restored path andidentifiers for one or more fiber line on the restored path; retrievelicense purchase data from a license store component; and, store thebandwidth utilization data and license purchase data.
 2. The capacitycontrol engine of claim 1, wherein coordinating use of licenses based ona network state includes: receiving one or more platform agnosticcapacity utilization record, the platform agnostic capacity utilizationrecord being platform specific data normalized by a data transformer. 3.The capacity control engine of claim 1, wherein coordinating use oflicenses includes computing license usages based the bandwidthutilization data and assigning licenses by processing bandwidthutilization data and license purchase data.
 4. The capacity controlengine of claim 3 wherein coordinating use of licenses further includesstoring the computed license usages and assigned licenses as processedlicense usage data.
 5. The capacity control engine of claim 1, whereinthe computer executable code executed by the processor further causesthe processor to: communicate license usage data and license purchasedata with an audit enforcement engine.
 6. The capacity control engine ofclaim 5, wherein the computer executable code executed by the processorfurther causes the processor to: cause the audit enforcement engine todetermine whether the user may utilize a greater number of licenses thanthe user has purchased.